AFRICA INITIATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

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1 AFRICA INITIATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM Africa Initiative Graduate Research Grant Program Overview and Application Guidelines The Africa Initiative s (AI) graduate research grant program supports short-term academic placements for Master s and PhD students enrolled in select African universities* undertaking research on Africa on one or more of the program s thematic areas conflict resolution, energy, food security, health, and migration, with special attention to the cross-cutting issue of climate change. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE 1. To build capacity by giving bright, highly-motivated students an opportunity to discover and impart new learning in a cross-cultural experience. 2. To support research by scholars in Africa and Canada on critically important areas to the continent. SCOPE The program currently offers grants of up to CAD$10,000 to up to fifteen students per year enrolled in a Master s or PhD program at select African universities.* Each student spends up to four months at select Canadian universities** conducting research funded by the AI graduate research grant program. In order to be considered for the grant, each applicant is expected to identify professors, experts, or researchers they intend to work with at universities in Canada and are required to submit an official letter of support from the university where they wish to be based. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA In order to be eligible for the grant, applicants must demonstrate the following: must be a Master s or PhD student enrolled in an African university* must be in good academic standing (with at least an overall B, or equivalent, standing) proposed research must be original and timely and must align with AI s thematic areas of conflict resolution, energy, food security, health, and migration, with special attention to the cross-cutting issue of climate change NOTE: Eligibility is based on existing agreements between Canadian and African universities. Students from select African universities* are eligible to conduct research at corresponding Canadian universities** APPLICATION MATERIALS Each applicant must submit the following materials in order to be considered for the grant; application packages missing any of the required documents will not be reviewed.

2 Completed application form: the application form must be completed in order to be reviewed; application forms with missing or irrelevant information will not be reviewed. Please ensure the information provided on the application form is concise, but thorough. Proposal: the proposal should summarize the applicant s graduate research, including an overview of the research objective, methodology and expected results and outputs. It should also contain a timeline and proposed research plan in Canada and an overview of the capacity of the host institution contacts involvement with the applicant s work while in Canada. (i.e.: who the applicant will work with while in Canada and what will the applicant work on with the identified contact at the host institution in Canada.) The proposal should be maximum 5 pages in length. Letter of support: the applicant must obtain and submit as part of their application a letter of support from the university in Canada where the applicant plans to be based at. The letter can be either a letter of support from the host university inviting the applicant as a visiting scholar or an acceptance letter from the host university inviting the applicant as an exchange student. For a list of universities with exchange agreements, please refer to the note in the Eligibility Criteria section of this document. CV: applicants must submit the most current version of their CV outlining their educational background, professional experience, and other academic and professional credentials. University transcript: applicants must submit a transcript detailing their academic standing in their current program (i.e.: Master s or PhD program). Transcripts from previous programs completed by the applicant (undergraduate programs or other academic training) will not be reviewed. Letters of recommendation: applicants must submit two letters of recommendation; one letter must be from the applicant s academic advisor; the second letter may be from either academic or professional sources. Reference letters must be ed by the referees separately to aiexchange@cigionline.org by the application deadline. Passport scan: applicants must submit a scan of the page of their passport containing their personal information and photo. Writing sample: the writing sample can be any previous research work authored by the applicant. APPLICATION SUBMISSION Applications must be submitted by the application deadline via to aiexchange@cigionline.org. Application materials must be submitted in a single (with the exception of references) with each attachment clearly titled. The Africa Initiative will acknowledge receipt of all applications within 48 hours of receipt. The application deadline is May 31, 2011

3 NOTE: Eligibility is based on existing agreements between Canadian and African universities. Students from select African universities* are eligible to conduct research at corresponding Canadian universities** *AFRICAN UNIVERSITY University of Botswana University of Cape Town University of KwaZulu Natal University of Ghana University of Dar es Salaam Universite Gaston Berger de Saint-Luis **CANADIAN UNIVERSITY University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Queen s University University of Calgary Carleton University Concordia University Carleton University Queen s University Carleton Univeristy University of Ottawa Ecole de Gouvernance et d Economie de Rabat Queen s University University of Nairobi Cairo University University of Benin National University of Rwanda University of Jos Rhodes University University of Pretoria Mzuzu University MISR International University Makerere University University of Toronto Bishops University Concordia University University of New Brunswick University of Prince Edward Island

4 PARTICIPANT SELECTION PROCEDURE AND EXPECTATIONS Each application is reviewed and assessed based on established criteria. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed and final candidates are selected based on the overall application and interview assessment. Each applicant will be contacted with regards to the status of their application prior to the public announcement of grant recipients. SELECTION CRITERIA Applicants are assessed based on the following criteria, as determined by the application materials submitted and subsequent interviews: applicability of proposed research to one or more of the AI thematic areas quality of research proposed based on the stated research objective, scope and expected outputs and results unique content of research proposed relevance to current policy issues and/or governance architecture methods and expected results are clearly defined and appropriate research plan makes effective use of the 4-month period level of academic achievement relevant involvement/skills in other research projects and previous track record of success demonstration of ability to write clearly recommendations from supervisors and other professional or academic sources PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS Selected participants spend up to four months in Canada conducting research and preparing their research paper for submission. Coordinating travel, permits, accommodations, and research schedule is the responsibility of the grant recipient with administrative assistance from the AI exchange program coordinator. Participants are expected to provide content for the Africa Initiative s Africa Portal on a regular basis during their placement and write one major research paper at the end of their placement. Short Research Articles: Participants will submit short research articles ( words in length) once per month (three in total). Participants will be provided with select topics to choose from each month and will be expected to produce backgrounders on the topics for publication on the Africa Portal ( Major Research Paper: Participants will produce one major research paper based on their research at the conclusion of their participation. Topic selection is the responsibility of the participant, with the expectation that the topic aligns with one or more of the Africa Initiative s thematic areas. Presentation of Major Research Paper: Selected participants will be invited to present their research on a panel at the Africa Initiative s conference planned for 2013, outlining the major findings, research, and publications resulting from the overall project.

5 TERMS OF PAYMENT The Africa Initiative will send grant recipients a Memorandum of Grant Conditions. Upon signature by the participant and after successfully obtaining a visa to travel to Canada, the Africa Initiative will send the participant a cheque or wire transfer amounting to 90% of the approved grant. The remaining funds will be transferred upon the successful submission of the major paper and all research articles as outlined in the Africa Initiative s Graduate Research Grant standards and guidelines. For administrative purposes, documentation will be required for the following expenses: International airfare Local accommodation Travel expenses, including visas, medical insurance, liability insurance, immunization, ground transportation Research permits Resources for research (data, equipment, etc.) For more information contact aiexchange@cigionline.org